Annoyed with the constant embarrassment his remarks have caused the party and its UP government, the ruling Yadav family deputed party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav to convey the message to Khan that he would have to resign if he was not willing to work within the parameters of the SP government.

However, after making its intentions clear, that it will not tolerate his barbs anymore, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav provided Khan with a face-saver by invoking his longstanding friendship with Khan.

"He (Azam) should not take up posts within the party, but if he does he should carry out responsibilities associated with it. If he cannot he should resign," Ram Gopal Yadav told the media in Agra on Thursday.

Khan, who had not been pulling along well with Akhilesh Yadav, had deplored the government's handling of the Muzaffarnagar riots. With influential clerics like Jamat e Ulema i Hind general secretary Mahmoud Madani demanding dismissal of the SP government for its 'inept handling' of the riots, the party saw internal sabotage in Khan's action and sent out a clear message to him.